French Soccer League Predictions and Discussion Thread (Ligue 1)

[rahmad2nd]

I don't think that it was just trash-talk what Argentina players did in the World Cup after eliminating Netherlands by penalties.

Their behavior was so not right there. This is just humiliating for Netherlands players. I also agree that it is meaningless to say that France might have done the same thing as well. We can't assume such thing while not having any proof that is showing a potential for such action. I don't remember France players doing a similar thing in the recent years. They have always just focused on their games and targets.

Can't believe people are still talking about this. Don't forget that Netherlands are the only team involved in all the top 3 most carded games in World Cup history. They have a history of riling teams up even before the match, and Messi's responses while unforgivable, were all coming AFTER Dutch efforts from media and coach himself to talk them down.

Let's get over this and instead see for ourselves how Mbappe and Messi play with Neymar again, it's all professional trust me.

Can we all stop talking about players and focus on teams? I still wonder about Monaco, for example, will they get a refresh?

Psywar in soccer is commonplace.  there are a lot of players and coaches do it, before the game starts and this is one of the scenarios to knock the opponent's mentality down. what happened in the Argentina vs Netherlands match, will be history. good for the team, the coach as well as the referee. this is football, it will never be separated from the dramas that adorn it. however, this scenario would never have happened if there had been no provocation from both parties, and I will not justify either of them.

As for the final match between Argentina vs France, the game is over as well as the world cup. What is clear is that we are presented with many interesting shows from this once every 4 yearly event. all the players who competed in the championship yesterday, can be sure to have returned to their respective teams. both Messi, Mbappe, Neymar, they have re-joined into a single team.
As you said, everything is professional and i believe it. In a few days, Ligue 1 will restart soon. all teams will focus on this competition, including the PSG stars. including Monaco, who may be ready to play matches in the second half of the season.

[bitgolden]

It was utterly disgusting to see professional footballers display such behaviours. Personally, it was unprofessional. Mbappe is one of the most decorated footballer at his age. He has won more titles than most of the Argentine national team players. I think he is ridiculous to criticize a footballer that has player in  the finals of the past 2 world cup matches and he is also a world cup winner. I would say that he is the future of the game.

Yes, it is very unfortunate when footballers do excessive things to express their joy by making fun of other players. He should have known very well how the players he made fun of like that felt, because he was a player too. He overdid it and I don't see him showing any respect for his opponent. In fact, we know that all this time the players have prioritized respect for their opponents.

The real reason is that dude is different from others, have we seen Di Maria do it? Messi? Acuna? Anyone? It's just him and him alone that goes overboard and that's the only reason, and I do not think that it would be fair to say it's anything regional or anything, it's just one person.

And to be honest that should be fine, most teams have one player that everyone hates, I think it is unavoidable, wish it was, because we really do not need players like that, no human like that, we should spread love and not hate or at least not triggering, "free speech" is not same as being rude, and being rude could get you disliked that is as much as expected and normal.

[skarais]

The real reason is that dude is different from others, have we seen Di Maria do it? Messi? Acuna? Anyone? It's just him and him alone that goes overboard and that's the only reason, and I do not think that it would be fair to say it's anything regional or anything, it's just one person.

And to be honest that should be fine, most teams have one player that everyone hates, I think it is unavoidable, wish it was, because we really do not need players like that, no human like that, we should spread love and not hate or at least not triggering, "free speech" is not same as being rude, and being rude could get you disliked that is as much as expected and normal.

I still can't believe what we are talking about Martinez making fun of Mbappe with the doll. The photo can be misunderstood, but I'll never know for sure what led to the doll in Martinez's hands. I would regret it if Martinez actually did it, but to this day I haven't found a reason why Martinez did it. It's still speculation to me, but of course I don't like something like that though that's fine.

Mbappe shouldn't have to worry about this, I'm sure he's not affected by anything. After all this is done outside the game and anyone can hate anyone in the end. Mbappe scored 4 goals against Martinez in the final, including 3 penalties and 1 beautiful goal. Is Martinez any better? of course not.

[casperBGD]

not sure why is anyone attacking Mbappe, he took award for best scorer, and it is a team sport, you can't get title alone, you need team players to shine as well, and Giroud was one that did his part, but others could do better for most matches

seems that Messi will not play until next year, and probably few matches to rest and enjoy WC title

[kotwica666]

not sure why is anyone attacking Mbappe, he took award for best scorer, and it is a team sport, you can't get title alone, you need team players to shine as well, and Giroud was one that did his part, but others could do better for most matches

seems that Messi will not play until next year, and probably few matches to rest and enjoy WC title

Absolutely right, Messi will probably not play in the PSG team this year, he will join the team next year. He is enjoying the World Cup so far. It is really pleasing for him that his football career has come to fruition.

[Doell]

Same with Lorient conceded 21 goals, there are rumors about Monaco defender Benoit Badiashile which will be an alternative by Chelsea, the young man ability is enough to steal Chelsea attention. Maybe Monaco will let him go? If they let him go, will their defense be even worse or will they sign another player? Also to finish in second place this season is very difficult for Monaco there is Lens which is currently in very good of performance.

Seems unacceptable with Lorient achievement this season before international break out because success leaded 5th standing position with bad statistic. Until 15 matches, Lorient have conceded 21 goals from 26 goals scored and become  the 5th standing team have many goals conceded. I don't think with how poor performance from Lorient defender because they have conceded about 1.4 goals each match.

But can't imagine with Lorient can lead to 5th standing position although have conceded many goals, only few points away from Marseille and Rennes, Lorient has the opportunity to be in 3rd place. Have advantage with home match opportunity for Lorient against Montpellier next match after international break out, if can added three points have possibility break to 4th standing position if Marseille loss next match.

Regarding Lorient I don't think this team will finishing in third or fourth place later, there is no bigger opportunity to this team. Meanwhile Marseille also won't let that happen, Marseille which will against Toulouse, will possibility get 3 points easily. Toulouse's defense is very bad and easy to beat, so there is no chance for Lorient to take that place.

[Sterbens]

Can we all stop talking about players and focus on teams? I still wonder about Monaco, for example, will they get a refresh?

World Cup passed and Ligue 1 will resume in few days so better to concentrate on that indeed!
Monaco transfer rumors aren't that many nor important as I could find although they have enough money to spend to recruit few players. So far they aren't in top level comparing to the previous season although they are trying to recover and advance.
Their match will be against Auxerre, a team that is trying to avoid the relegation zone so it is obvious why Monaco is favorite here.

Monaco is not playing well this season. Out of 15 matches, they have won only 8 matches. Winning the title is not their goal, but they will try to climb to second place in the table. But their squad is not strong enough. Especially the performance of their defenders is poor. They conceded 21 goals in 15 matches. Monaco will definitely need to tighten up their defence if they want to finish second in the table. The performance of attacking players is quite decent. A solid defence will stabilize Monaco's performance. However, it is very difficult to make predictions about Ligue 1 teams. The performance of most teams in Ligue 1 has been erratic.

Monaco is a team that always finishes in the top 4 in the last 2 seasons. They also felt they were in the middle of the board in the 2019/2020 season, and even almost got relegated in the 2018/2019 season by finishing 17th, 1 level above the relegation zone. This season they started quite well, it's just that in the last 5 matches, Monaco struggled a little so they lost 2 matches which made them slump to 6th in the standings. Now the point margin from their competitors is not that far apart, so they still have many opportunities to return to the top 4.

[CLS63]

Can we all stop talking about players and focus on teams? I still wonder about Monaco, for example, will they get a refresh?

It looks like Monaco's strong times are long gone now.

Because they don't have a squad as strong as in the past first of all. By saying "in the past" I'd like to mean the 2016/17 season especially. They had such an amazing lineup back then. Mbappe, Lemar, Fabinho, Bakayoko and so on. The team chemistry was amazing at the same time. Maybe Leonardo Jardim had a big effect on the team with his management style as well. But that lineup was really something impressive. That was the season they won the title as well. To bring back those times, they obviously need a big renovation.

[Maidak]

I don't think that it was just trash-talk what Argentina players did in the World Cup after eliminating Netherlands by penalties.
Their behavior was so not right there. This is just humiliating for Netherlands players. I also agree that it is meaningless to say that France might have done the same thing as well. We can't assume such thing while not having any proof that is showing a potential for such action. I don't remember France players doing a similar thing in the recent years. They have always just focused on their games and targets.

Can't believe people are still talking about this. Don't forget that Netherlands are the only team involved in all the top 3 most carded games in World Cup history. They have a history of riling teams up even before the match, and Messi's responses while unforgivable, were all coming AFTER Dutch efforts from media and coach himself to talk them down.
Let's get over this and instead see for ourselves how Mbappe and Messi play with Neymar again, it's all professional trust me.
Can we all stop talking about players and focus on teams? I still wonder about Monaco, for example, will they get a refresh?

Psywar in soccer is commonplace.  there are a lot of players and coaches do it, before the game starts and this is one of the scenarios to knock the opponent's mentality down. what happened in the Argentina vs Netherlands match, will be history. good for the team, the coach as well as the referee. this is football, it will never be separated from the dramas that adorn it. however, this scenario would never have happened if there had been no provocation from both parties, and I will not justify either of them.
As for the final match between Argentina vs France, the game is over as well as the world cup. What is clear is that we are presented with many interesting shows from this once every 4 yearly event. all the players who competed in the championship yesterday, can be sure to have returned to their respective teams. both Messi, Mbappe, Neymar, they have re-joined into a single team.
As you said, everything is professional and i believe it. In a few days, Ligue 1 will restart soon. all teams will focus on this competition, including the PSG stars. including Monaco, who may be ready to play matches in the second half of the season.

After all, I believe that every team did what they had to do to make sure that they would win matches. And there is a lot of history behind the way Lionel Messi acted in the match against the Netherlands.

Anyway, I do not want to get into all that stuff. I just wanted to say that every team is professional and at the same time they also want to win. And they will do basically anything that they are able to so that they can get the advantage over their opponent. Lionel Messi played in the world cup final against France. Mbappe was in the France team. But in a few days, they will play alongside each other. So they have no choice but to keep everything professional.

[Oluwa-btc]

Mbappe has said that his dream team since childhood was Real Madrid, so I don't wonder if one-day Mbappe will finally play in Madrid, even though it's only a few years. madrid still opens the door wide for mbappe, apart from that if PSG manages to win the UCL cup, I also still believe that mbappe will not intend to be at PSG much longer.

I don't see that for now, the reason Madrid were so sure last season Mbappe would come is because things like this happened but when he decided to stay with PSG and turned down Madrid's offers I think it ended there. Because I'm still pretty sure Madrid still won't open the door for Mbappe this season or even next season even though it's possible this will definitely be the last option for Perez, he has money and there are still a number of strikers he can bring in even though it's true in terms of skills obviously it won't be as good as Mbappe but he will choose that option as it will be very painful again for Perez if he is rejected again and again at the last moment.

Kylian Mbappe will not join Real Madrid this season. He will play until he finishes his argument at PSG. He could potentially join Real Madrid later on if they want to sign Kylian Mbappe. However, if Mbappe joins Real Madrid, this team is the best team in the world. That means it has the potential to become the best club.

I'm currently considering his next club move to the Premier League, joining Real Madrid will never happen again, I don't know how much I continue preaching the gospel of how Real Madrid deals with players they like and the effects of what happens whenever that player says no.

Real Madrid, I repeat Real Madrid will never bid to this guy again or trying to convince him to join Real Madrid, they had an alternative player already ( Endrick ) amd a possible option if Karim Benzema stop's his good form of goal scoring.

[ILuckyGuyI]

There will be a quite big competition for the second spot in the standings for certain.

I especially expect a competition among Marseille, Monaco and Rennes for that. Maybe I'm prejudiced about Lens but I don't feel like they will be able to keep up this level until the end of the season. They aren't normally a very familiar team with their current place in the league. I can't overlook their impressive effort until now of course. But considering their performance last season I feel like it will be the same for them. They will lose their momentum at a point and it will be the start of their fall. For the second spot, I'm favouring Marseille for now.

[Docnaster]

not sure why is anyone attacking Mbappe, he took award for best scorer, and it is a team sport, you can't get title alone, you need team players to shine as well, and Giroud was one that did his part, but others could do better for most matches

seems that Messi will not play until next year, and probably few matches to rest and enjoy WC title

Right, Messi will probably not play in the PSG team this year, he will join the team next year. He is enjoying the World Cup so far. It is pleasing for him that his football career has come to fruition.

Messi is back in the PSG training and will not play till next year, per what?
If actually, he was not going to play he will return to his homeland and continue his celebration as others do.
Though it isn't mandatory to return, for now, Messi so much loves and respects his club that's why he joined them , but I wouldn't see any sense in him coming back to resume training but refusing to join the match till next year. Let's watch.

[bekti3]

Can we all stop talking about players and focus on teams? I still wonder about Monaco, for example, will they get a refresh?

It looks like Monaco's strong times are long gone now.

Because they don't have a squad as strong as in the past first of all. By saying "in the past" I'd like to mean the 2016/17 season especially. They had such an amazing lineup back then. Mbappe, Lemar, Fabinho, Bakayoko and so on. The team chemistry was amazing at the same time. Maybe Leonardo Jardim had a big effect on the team with his management style as well. But that lineup was really something impressive. That was the season they won the title as well. To bring back those times, they obviously need a big renovation.

I will not reminisce about the past for Monaco and maybe I will focus on the previous 3 seasons because they have shot from 9th place straight to 3rd place in the last two seasons so this makes me feel that they have been quite successful in the last 2 seasons. On the other hand, even though there are now a lot of obstacles for them, I think this can still be fixed and they still have a chance, at least to return to the top 3 as before. Even though in this case their players cannot be said to be big but for Ligue 1 I think their current squad is still quite good.

[doomloop]

Monaco is not playing well this season. Out of 15 matches, they have won only 8 matches. Winning the title is not their goal, but they will try to climb to second place in the table. But their squad is not strong enough. Especially the performance of their defenders is poor. They conceded 21 goals in 15 matches. Monaco will definitely need to tighten up their defence if they want to finish second in the table. The performance of attacking players is quite decent. A solid defence will stabilize Monaco's performance. However, it is very difficult to make predictions about Ligue 1 teams. The performance of most teams in Ligue 1 has been erratic.

Before break, we have 15 rounds and surely these are not good figures for them, but now they can improve their performance with first spot is already settled, and now we have six teams which are fighting hard for the remaining 4 spots which are giving them European entry and Lille which is currently at the seventh spot having have 10 points gape from second and Monaco is also having good gape which needs to recover for having better end of this season and this all is not easy even we have big decline in performance of Lorient, and they are not able to win any game from their last five games which is surely worst for them but from here things are surely needed better results and improve performance because if they are not able to have quick recovery then surely hey could be late and having serious trouble for their next year's entry into European competitions.

[dezoel]

Seems unacceptable with Lorient achievement this season before international break out because success leaded 5th standing position with bad statistic. Until 15 matches, Lorient have conceded 21 goals from 26 goals scored and become  the 5th standing team have many goals conceded. I don't think with how poor performance from Lorient defender because they have conceded about 1.4 goals each match.

But can't imagine with Lorient can lead to 5th standing position although have conceded many goals, only few points away from Marseille and Rennes, Lorient has the opportunity to be in 3rd place. Have advantage with home match opportunity for Lorient against Montpellier next match after international break out, if can added three points have possibility break to 4th standing position if Marseille loss next match.

At the start of this season they were doing amazing job and having third spot but now suddenly drop into form and having worst results like these are surely concerned for the management hopefully now in this break coach Le Bris change his strategy, and they will be able to fight back for their better rank because if they fail to have any positive result then surely they can drop which will be brought big dent in players confidence and poor reaction from fans as well.

Now after break they are going to host Montpellier which is one of the worst teams in current season with just four wins in 15 matches, but surely Lorient needs to improve performance and bring better strategy for having better results specially strength in defence is more important for them because they are conceding too many goals.

[izsara]

I don't see that for now, the reason Madrid were so sure last season Mbappe would come is because things like this happened but when he decided to stay with PSG and turned down Madrid's offers I think it ended there. Because I'm still pretty sure Madrid still won't open the door for Mbappe this season or even next season even though it's possible this will definitely be the last option for Perez, he has money and there are still a number of strikers he can bring in even though it's true in terms of skills obviously it won't be as good as Mbappe but he will choose that option as it will be very painful again for Perez if he is rejected again and again at the last moment.

Kylian Mbappe will not join Real Madrid this season. He will play until he finishes his argument at PSG. He could potentially join Real Madrid later on if they want to sign Kylian Mbappe. However, if Mbappe joins Real Madrid, this team is the best team in the world. That means it has the potential to become the best club.

Do you think that Madrid is not the best club now lol.
I think with the present condition or in the future it will be difficult for Mbappe to be in Madrid as long as he is at PSG with all the luxury that he has now.
This condition cannot be ignored because regardless of anything now we know his position is very comfortable and he likes this thing that made him reject Madrid last season and I think it has finished there even though in the next few seasons there may be changes of course it has to Wait until the contract actually expires.

[makishart]

Mbappe has said that his dream team since childhood was Real Madrid, so I don't wonder if one-day Mbappe will finally play in Madrid, even though it's only a few years. madrid still opens the door wide for mbappe, apart from that if PSG manages to win the UCL cup, I also still believe that mbappe will not intend to be at PSG much longer.

I don't see that for now, the reason Madrid were so sure last season Mbappe would come is because things like this happened but when he decided to stay with PSG and turned down Madrid's offers I think it ended there. Because I'm still pretty sure Madrid still won't open the door for Mbappe this season or even next season even though it's possible this will definitely be the last option for Perez, he has money and there are still a number of strikers he can bring in even though it's true in terms of skills obviously it won't be as good as Mbappe but he will choose that option as it will be very painful again for Perez if he is rejected again and again at the last moment.

Kylian Mbappe will not join Real Madrid this season. He will play until he finishes his argument at PSG. He could potentially join Real Madrid later on if they want to sign Kylian Mbappe. However, if Mbappe joins Real Madrid, this team is the best team in the world. That means it has the potential to become the best club.

You were underrating madrid this season. Mbappe has been seeing madrid as a potential club for the next of his career. I saw that even mbappe wanna take the second chance if madrid will be giving him such offer. As long as madrid wanna try to spend bunch of money for him and i guess that if mbappe may potentially moving from PSG to the madrid. The fact that if madrid has become a very good team at this moment. PSG was good but it's not as good as madrid that was always being considered as the dream team from football players in the world.
Joining madrid will be boosting his popularity and career.

[snipie]

not sure why is anyone attacking Mbappe, he took award for best scorer, and it is a team sport, you can't get title alone, you need team players to shine as well, and Giroud was one that did his part, but others could do better for most matches

seems that Messi will not play until next year, and probably few matches to rest and enjoy WC title

In Argentina, Mbappe was attacked because he underestimated them. I forgot exactly what he said but I think that it was about South American football has a lower level than European ones which pissed people there. I think they respect Griezmann since he respect them, eat their foods or something like that. I don't recall word by word the news.
That was said before France defeat of course. Otherwise during the game Mbappe did a very good job. I could say that France wouldn't be able to play the final game without him.

[Rabi3]

I don't see that for now, the reason Madrid were so sure last season Mbappe would come is because things like this happened but when he decided to stay with PSG and turned down Madrid's offers I think it ended there. Because I'm still pretty sure Madrid still won't open the door for Mbappe this season or even next season even though it's possible this will definitely be the last option for Perez, he has money and there are still a number of strikers he can bring in even though it's true in terms of skills obviously it won't be as good as Mbappe but he will choose that option as it will be very painful again for Perez if he is rejected again and again at the last moment.

Kylian Mbappe will not join Real Madrid this season. He will play until he finishes his argument at PSG. He could potentially join Real Madrid later on if they want to sign Kylian Mbappe. However, if Mbappe joins Real Madrid, this team is the best team in the world. That means it has the potential to become the best club.

Do you think that Madrid is not the best club now lol.
I think with the present condition or in the future it will be difficult for Mbappe to be in Madrid as long as he is at PSG with all the luxury that he has now.
This condition cannot be ignored because regardless of anything now we know his position is very comfortable and he likes this thing that made him reject Madrid last season and I think it has finished there even though in the next few seasons there may be changes of course it has to Wait until the contract actually expires.

Mbappe is a fan of Real Madrid and I'm %100 sure he will play for them sooner or later, he definitely likes the position he has in PSG right now and he wants to score more and win more trophies with them and then move on, He will get bored if all he wins is the Ligue 1, that won't get him a Ballon dor, and I'm pretty sure he is aiming for it.

[savetheFORUM]

There will be a quite big competition for the second spot in the standings for certain.

I especially expect a competition among Marseille, Monaco and Rennes for that. Maybe I'm prejudiced about Lens but I don't feel like they will be able to keep up this level until the end of the season. They aren't normally a very familiar team with their current place in the league. I can't overlook their impressive effort until now of course. But considering their performance last season I feel like it will be the same for them. They will lose their momentum at a point and it will be the start of their fall. For the second spot, I'm favouring Marseille for now.

With we still have 23 round left in this current season and PSG is already at the top with big gape for third spot and other teams like 10 points most chances this will be increased and no one able to challenge them for the title race, and we have competition for remaining top spots which is clearly no easy with Rennes and Lens both are doing amazing job and Marseille and Monaco is also fighting hard for the spots which will bring good competition Lorient which was at their best suddenly losing their momentum and having poor results which mean we have wide open chances for many teams which are looking for qualification of remaining European competitions spots with most chances Marseille and Monaco have habit of giving their best near the end of the season is also good advantage for these both teams.